Device for coding and decoding business survey cards



April 1941- L. c. MOORE L 2.237.968

DEVICE FOR CODING AND DECODING BUSINESS SURVEY CARDS Filed Aug. 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Lens 61 Moore.

ATTORNEYS April 8, 1941. L. c. MOORE I 2.237.968

DEVICE FOR CODING AND DECODING BUSINESS SURVEY CARDS Filed Aug. 19, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 25 REPLY Posr CARD COLUOMBUS /2 HIO MERCHANTS MESSAGE r I III-'11,",

INVENTOR A0175 0 Moore.

' ZT I'ORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 1 941 DEVICE FOR/CODING DECODING BUSINESS SURVEY CARDS Loris C. Moore, Columbus, Ohio Application August 19, 1939, Serial No. 291,064

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for coding and decoding, business survey cards. It has to do, more particularly, with a device for applying certain marks to business survey cards or advertising cards at the time they are sent out and tor decoding such marks when the cards are reurned so as to give the information which the marks are intended to convey. However, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to coding and decoding business survey cards but is a coding and decoding system of, general application. I will describe it as being used for. coding and decoding business survey cards for illustrative purposes only.

In the past, it has been customary to apply marks to checks or other objects which when "Iecoded will give certain information. However, hese marks have usually consisted of perforaor other readily visible marks. In many 1 stances, it is desirable to mark cards, checks or other members with marks which may be deqoded to give certain information but it. is also desirable that. the marks be relatively invisible. For example, this would be desirable in using business survey cards. It is a common practice tain marks at the time it is mailed so that when ity is returned, these marks can be decoded so as to indicate the name and address of the person returning the card.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device for applying code marks to cards or other similar objects to decode such marks to give certain information.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the type indicated of such a nature that the marks applied to the card will be normally invisible or inconspicuous.

Ifniy device is used in connection with business survey cards, for example, the business firms mailing list is taken and each customers name and address is typed on a separate mailing list card and is given a certain number. The

questionnaire card to be used embodies a double card, one section of which will have the name and address of the customer thereon and the other section of which will have the return address of the firm and the questions to be answered thereon. This latter section is adapted to be returned to the business firm. No number or other visible identification mark need be placed on this card section which is to be returned. However, before this questionnaire card section is mailed out, by means of my device, certain marks are applied to the edge of the card which will indicate in code the number corresponding to the customer's number on the mailing list card. When this card section is returned, even though the customer does not sign the card, his number can be determined by decoding the marks and by looking up the mailing list card with a corresponding number, the name and address of the person returning the card can be determined.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the card coding and decoding apparatus which I preferably use. In these drawings, like characters of reference designate corresponding parts and:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coding and 1 decoding device which I may employ.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing a mailing list card.

Figure 4 is a view showing the double card which is sent to the customer.

Figure 5 shows the section of the card adapted to be returned by the customer.

Figure 6 is a sectional view illustrating a portion of the device and showing means for facilitating the decoding of the card.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion ,of

the device.

Figure 8, is a perspective view of a device which may be used in conjunction with the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 for marking the cards.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a card provided with a series symbol.

With reference to the drawings, I have indicated a business survey card for illustrative purposes which may be marked and decoded according to my invention. As previously indicated, I apply marks to the edge of the card which are relatively invisible and which will give certain information when decoded after the card is returned. I will describe how my apparatus may be applied in connection with this particular type of business survey card.

Each name on the mailing list of a business firm is copied onto a separate mailing list card I, as indicated in Figure 3. The address of the customer is also given on this card. As indicated, a number is also applied to each mailing list card.

The business survey cards which are to be sent out to customers or prospective customers may be of the type illustrated in Figure 4. This card is a double card embodying a section 2 which may have a questionnaire printed thereon and is adapted to be returned and a section 3 which has the name and address of the customer printed thereon and may have a message from the business firm. This card 3 is not returned to the sender. The card 2 which is to be returned by the customer will have the return address of the firm thereon but will not have the number of. the customer printed thereon or any other cone.

spicuous identification mark. It may also be in-. dicated on this card that the customer need not sign it or give his name and address. before the double card is sent out by the business firm, certain marks are applied to the edge of the cards by using my device which will indicate in code the number corresponding to the customers number on the mailing list card I When this card section is returned, even through the customer does not sign the card, his number canv be determined by decoding the marks with my device and by looking up the mailing list card with acorresponding number, the name and address of' the person returning the card can be determined.

The device which I preferably employ for applying the marks to the edge of the card and for decoding such marks is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 6 and '7. This device comprises a fiat board 4 of a suitable size. The board 4 has a metal plate 5 fastened to the top surface thereof. This plate 5 has formed in its edges four sets of notches indicated by the numerals 6, 1, 8 and 9. However, various numbers of sets of these notches may be provided. The set 6 is located at one of the side edges of the plate 5, the set 9 at the oppositeside edge, and the sets 1 and 8 at the top edge. However, these sets of notches may be arranged differently if desired. Each set of notches comprises ten notches and a set of numerals 5a, 7a, 8a and 9a is disposed adjacent each set of the respective sets of notches. A card to be marked is adapted to be placed on the top surface of the plate 5 with its edges to which the marks are to be applied spaced slightly from the edges of the plate 5. A plurality of pins II] are disposed adjacent two or more of the edges of the plate 5 to properly locate the card when it is positioned thereon. Mirrors II are disposed adjacent each set of notches for-facilitating decoding of the card.

In applying the marks l2 (Figure 5) to the edge of the card, the double card is placed on the plate 5 with the edges of the return section 2 disposed adjacent the edges of the plate 5 which have the notches formed therein. It may be desirable, for example, to apply marks l2 which will indicate the number 1826 which is the number of the mailing list card indicated in Figure 3. The section 3 of the double card will have the name and address of the customer indicated on the mailing list card I. However, there will be no visible identifying mark on the card section 2. The set of numerals 6a may indicate units, the set Ta tens, the set 8a hundreds and the set 911 thousands.

The edge of the card will lie over a portion of the notches as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7. A pen may then be taken and may be inserted in the notch opposite the numeral 1 of the set 9 and an ink mark applied to that edge of the card, then inserted in. the notch opposite numeral 8 of the set 8 and an ink mark applied to the edge of the card, then inserted in the notch opposite the numeral 2 of the set I and a mark applied, and then inserted in the notch opposite numeral 6 of the set 6 and a mark be applied to the edge of the card. Thus, these marks will indicate the numeral 1826. The marks can be readily decoded when the card is returned by positioning However,

the card on the plate 5 in the same manner. As indicated in Figures 6 and 7, the mirrors II are disposed at a substantially 45 angle and the marks on the edges of the card can be easily seen in the mirrors.

In some instances, it may be desirable to apply the thousand-indicating mark or some other mark of a higher series to a large number of cards, for example, the thousand mark to a thousand cards. For this purpose, the device indi cated in Figure 8 may be provided for applying the common mark to a group of cards rather than to mark each card individually with the thousand-indicating mark by use of the set of notches 9. This device merely comprises a container I3 of substantially rectangular form but open at its top and one of its ends so that it will receive a group of cards indicated by the numeral Hi. The closed end of this member I3 is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced slots 91) which are horizontally disposed. These slots are numbered as indicated at 90. The slots are spaced the same as the notches 9. It will be apparent that a group of cards may be marked by drawing a pen through one of the slots 9b. This mark can be decoded by placing the card on the plate 5 with the edge marked in this manner disposed adjacent the notches 9. It will be apparent from the above description that I have provided a device having many advantages. A number of these advantages have been mentioned throughout the preceding description. Other advantages will be apparent from the drawings and the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A device for use in coding and decoding cards or the like comprising a plate upon which the card is adapted to be positioned, said plate being provided with notches in the edges thereof which the corresponding edges of the card will overlie, said notches being adapted to receive a pen or other member to be used in marking the edges of the card, said notches being provided with identifying symbols.

.2. A device for use in coding and decoding cards or the like comprising a plate upon which the card is adapted to be positioned, said plate being provided with notches in the edges thereof which the corresponding edges of the card will overlie, said notches being adapted to. receive a pen or other member to be used in marking the edges of the card, said notches being provided with identifying symbols, mirrors disposed adjacent the sets of notches in which can be seen the marks applied to the edges of the card, and means for insuring that the card will always be disposed in the same position on said plate.

. LORIS C. MOORE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,257,968. April 19in. LORIS c. MOORE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above nnmbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line 141;, after the word objects" insert and--; page 2, first column, line 214, for througfi' read -thoug,h--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. Signed and sealed this 2Lpth day of June A. D. l9lLl.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF GQRRECTION. Patent No. 2,257,968 April 8, l9LLl.

LORIS o. MOORE It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above ntmbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, first column, line hit, after the word "objects" insert and--; page '2, first column, line 2h, for til-rough" read -though; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office. I Signed and sealed this Zhth day of June A. D. 1911.1.

Henry Van Arsdale (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

